Nationals Cancel Practice Over Lag In Coronavirus Test Results

WASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Nationals canceled the team's morning workout at Nationals Park Monday over concerns about the coronavirus and the slowness in getting test results for the team's players, coaches and staff members.

All players, coaches and staff were tested for the coronavirus on Friday under Major League Baseball's coronavirus protocol. The team still had not received the results as of Monday morning. Tests are conducted every other day.

"Seventy-two hours later, we have yet to receive the results of those tests,” Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said Monday in a statement. “We cannot have our players and staff work at risk. Therefore, we have canceled our team workout scheduled for this morning."

Rizzo said the team "will not sacrifice the health and safety of our players, staff and their families."

“Without accurate and timely testing it is simply not safe for us to continue with Summer Camp. Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab," he said. "Otherwise, Summer Camp and the 2020 season are at risk.”

MLB is using one lab in Salt Lake City to process tests performed for all players, staff and coaches of 30 clubs.

Manager Dave Martinez announced Sunday that two players had tested positive for the coronavirus prior to joining team workouts. The players, who were not identified for privacy reason, have not been to Nationals Park. Players who test positive must be symptom-free for 72 hours and test negative twice at least 24 hours apart in order to report to the stadium.

During a media briefing Sunday, Nationals reliever Sean Doolitte emphasized that the team's medical staff and clubhouse attendants are doing a great job protecting the players. But he also expressed concerns about the nation's inability to bring the coronavirus under control.

"There’s a lot of players right now that are trying to make decisions that might be participating in camp that aren’t 100 percent comfortable with where things are at right now," Doolittle said. "That’s kind of where I am."

The Houston Astros, who the Nationals defeated last fall to win the World Series, also canceled their team workout scheduled for Monday. Astros GM James Click said the defending American League champions are "optimistic that this process will be ironed out and we'll be back on the field and ready to compete for a championship soon."

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